This position is located in the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and in consultation with the Deputy Secretary-General and the Directors of UNCTAD Divisions, the Chief, Office of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD will be responsible for the following:

•Assists the SG and DSG in the overall management of the work of the Office of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD in support of UNCTAD's work, with a view to ensuring the timely delivery of high quality support to the SG and DSG and oversight to the work of UNCTAD. •Coordinates substantive and policy support to intergovernmental bodies, including the Trade and Development Board and the General Assembly. •Formulates proposals aimed at fostering policy coherence and coordination within UNCTAD and with other International Organizations, as well as with relevant intergovernmental, regional and inter-agency processes; •Provides direction within the Office of the Secretary-General in overseeing the preparation of speeches and statement for the SG and DSG; coordinating the preparation of policy papers; ensuring substantive policy clearance of documents and publications; coordinating and consolidating contributions by substantive Divisions to various processes; and overseeing the preparation of other substantive outputs by the Office of the Secretary-General. •Provides policy advice to senior management on request and act as Secretary to the Senior Management Team meetings; •Provides leadership, management and direction to the Office of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, including: (i) preparing work plans in line with defined priorities and strategic directions, goals and priorities and managing the work of the team accordingly; (ii) implementing and monitoring performance assessment of staff; (iii) coordinating and cooperating with the UNCTAD Divisions and Services.•Undertakes special projects on behalf of the UNCTAD SG and DSG, including coordinating high-level events and other activities and outputs as required, in due coordination and with inputs and support from relevant staff within UNCTAD.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to trade and sustainable development. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships and to communicate clearly with a wide range of audiences. Proven ability to analyze complex data and produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations for achieving sustainable development; Solid understanding of the political environment and the programmes and activities of the UN system in implementing Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

• Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary

• Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, business or public administration or related field. A first level university degree in a related field, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

At least fifteen years of progressively responsible professional experience dealing with trade and sustainable development issues, including performing policy analysis and providing policy advice. At least five years of experience with trade and development-related intergovernmental processes is required. At least five years of experience working in a cabinet office supporting the work of a senior official in national or international organizations is also required. The above years of experience are part of the overall 15 years.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. All staff at the D1 level and above are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.